Looking
For Part-Time
Work?
Part-time work
comes in many
forms. It can
be less than
8 -hour work
in a fast food
chain, a contractual
project with
a company, working
freelance for
a publication,
a little business
run on the side.

A
Guide To Urban
Time Management
Time management
has been discussed
many times by
countless self-management
gurus. And yet
we need to keep
addressing it
to survive in
today's high
speed lifestyle.

If
I Can't Work at the
Office, Can I Work at
Home?By
Lolita Villa

Working
a full-time job (assuming
you have the luck
to find one these
days) can be a nightmare.
When going to the
office, you have to
deal with some potential
time-wasting activities
such as getting dressed
up for work, being
held-up in traffic,
enduring long travel
time or being trapped
in a rigid schedule
which requires you
to work in one place
for at least eight
hours in a day.

On
the other hand, you
can be productive
at work without having
to deal with the necessary
distractions that
was described. It's
possible to start
your work day as early
as you want in your
most comfortable clothes.
Meet your deadlines
at home with the help
of the speedy fax
machine, Internet
or telephone. Manage
distractions well
by taking your lunch
while working on a
brilliant idea that
suddenly hits you.

Coordinate
with your colleagues
by texting them on
your mobile phone,
while you're taking
a much needed break
in front of the TV.
And instead of being
stuck in traffic during
the rush hour, you're
at home with your
family, and getting
ready to do another
project after dinner
is done. It used to
be that such luxuries
could be possible
only to proprietors
or top company execs.
But even if you're
just starting out
in lower rungs of
the corporate ladder,
you can still realize
this kind of flexibility.

Essentially,
working on your own
time can be had in
a number of ways.
First of all, if you
work freelance, this
means you get paid
for each project you
complete for a number
of different clients.
Secondly, you can
work remote by negotiating
a telecommuting arrangement
with your employer.

Finally,
you can strike up
a number of part-time
or contractual arrangements
with several employers
or clients at a given
time, all of whom
allow you to do your
work at home. Some
people may think that
this is an unstable
way of making a living.

But
the truth is, telecommuting
on the job is a trend
that is being popularized
by information technology
and recent economic
changes that are affecting
the survival of corporate
organizations. This
new working culture
allows workers to
maximize their time
and earning potential
while adapting well
even in a time of
mergers, acquisitions
and corporate downsizing.
It is also a suitable
alternative for people
who aren't ready or
willing to work as
entrepreneurs.

On
the other hand, it
helps employers cut
down on overhead costs
by maintaining a minimal
staff inside the office.
But it doesn't mean
that working the traditional
9-5 routine is becoming
obsolete. Working
the traditional way
can be very fulfilling
for some professionals.
Furthermore, there
are just some jobs
which can only be
accomplished inside
the office.

And if you're a new
graduate and working
for the first time,
it's best to start
your career as a regular
employee. Eventually,
you'll find out which
kind is right for
you. But if and when
you do decide to work
away from the office,
you will get a lot
of perks as well as
risks. Some risks
include not being
able to get enough
projects that regularly,
which will affect
your income. There's
also the difficulty
of having a working
habit if you are unused
to doing a job without
being supervised.

Most
of all, part-time
or freelance workers
rarely get security
benefits as part of
their compensation
package. On the other
hand, as an independent
worker, you can determine
how big you want your
paycheck to be. You
can have the freedom
to pursue self-improvement
activities in your
own time, update your
boss through telecommunications
media even when you're
having an out-of-town
vacation, or just
be able to spend more
time with your family.
See also: Tips on
Working Remote